TULSA, Okla. – Jared Franek took fourth overall and Michael Caliendo finished seventh to cap the NCAA Championships for North Dakota State wrestling on Saturday at the BOK Center.
Franek started off the morning in the 157-pound consolation semifinals by avenging his season opening loss to #3 Peyton Robb of Nebraska to reach the third-place match. After both wrestlers picked up an escape in regulation, the Harwood, N.D. native secured a takedown in the final seconds of sudden victory to defeat Robb 3-1.
Franek, who was also named the Elite 90 award winner for the second time Saturday evening ahead of the finals, would fall to #5 Josh Humphreys of Lehigh for the second-time at the NCAA Championships in the third-place match. His fourth-place finish is tied for the second-best finish at the NCAA Division I Championships in program history, and is the highest finish for a Bison since Steven Monk took third at 165 pounds in 2014.
Caliendo picked up a victory in his only match on Saturday, as he claimed seventh at 165 pounds with a 6-2 decision over #12 Izzak Olejnik of Northern Illinois. Caliendo recorded a takedown 17 seconds into the match and never trailed. He added an escape and takedown in the second and secured riding time in the third after riding Olejnik for 100 seconds in the final period.
After setting a new program record at the national championships for points scored on Friday night, the Bison added to the team total with the two wins on Saturday and finished with 25.5 points to finish in 24th. The previous high point total at a Division I championship was 20.5 in 2014. 24th is the third highest place finish for NDSU at the NCAA Division I championships.
